AUSTIN — Texas child advocate groups Thursday sent state officials a letter expressing their "deep concern over the reported treatment of parents and children held in immigration detention facilities" and calling for the humane treatment of migrants.

The nearly 40 groups, which include the Texas Medical Association, Texas Pediatric Society and several other medical groups, called on state and congressional leaders to do more to prevent and address the overcrowded conditions recently reported at holding facilities for migrants where there was scarce access to sufficient food, clean water, clean clothing, bathing facilities or appropriate bedding.

"It is critical that our federal and state leaders work expeditiously to ensure that all migrant children and families who are crossing our border for their safety and survival are treated with human dignity and care," the letter reads.

"Migrant children who are in U.S. custody awaiting review of their asylum requests should reside in safe and clean environments with their parents, relatives or sponsors," the letter reads. "During any brief stays in border or detention facilities, children should have access to sufficient food, clean water, beds, clean clothes, soap, and other necessities, in addition to recreation, health care and educational services."

But the groups that signed the letter remain concerned that some children are not receiving needed medical or mental health and that there are long-term effects of holding children in such facilities. Multiple children have died in federal custody, the letter said.

"We are very concerned that the inhumane treatment of migrant children, stays in detention facilities, and separation from their families or other nurturing caregivers may all have lasting, harmful effects on the health and development of these children," Sophie Phillips, CEO of TexProtects, said in a news release. "We should be protecting these children, not subjecting them to further traumatic events that can have dire, lifelong consequences."

Some facilities, such as the Tornillo tent city that was near El Paso last year and the Carrizo Springs facility erected in southwest Texas a few weeks ago, are not subject to state health or licensing standards because the federal government designated them federal facilities.

Border Patrol stations, where overflowing numbers of migrants stayed for several weeks last month, also are not subject to these standards. That has frustrated state lawmakers who say they're fighting for better treatment of children.

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The letter urged elected officials at the state and federal level to do more to ensure "compassionate, humane and fair treatment" of migrants regardless of their country of origin.

"Each and every child in our state, no matter where she was born or how she got here, should be treated with the kind of care and compassion that children deserve," Stephanie Rubin, CEO of Texans Care for Children, said in the news release.

The letter was sent to Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Sens. John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, the state's congressional delegation and every member of the state Legislature.

James Barragán. James Barragán covers Texas politics for The Dallas Morning News. He has covered immigration, public safety and voting rights and has traveled on assignment to the U.S. Supreme Court and Houston during Hurricane Harvey. Before joining The News in 2017, he worked for the Austin American-Statesman and The Los Angeles Times.